Country Club West residents welcome association autonomy

Developer Neal Communities handed over its last set of reins Jan. 16, as it swore in five residents of Lakewood Ranch Country Club West to lead the community’s homeowners association.

The new board features a cast with links to the corporate world and neighborhood management. James Rogoze of Silverwood, Gary Booher of Greystone, and Edenmore’s Susan Ellis joined returning members Irwin Davis and Joe Novarro on the board.

The HOA now joins Lakewood Ranch Community Development District 6 in becoming 100% resident-controlled, a feat the CDD achieved in November.

Rogoze, who’s lived in Country Club West for four-and-a-half years and served as a Silverwood neighborhood chairman, will serve two years as board secretary.

Booher, the new assistant secretary, will serve a one-year term.

He lived in CDD 5 for six years; he served on its neighborhood board, before moving to Country Club West.
Ellis is newer to the area and has lived in Country Club West for nearly two years. He was elected to a one-year term as vice president.

Davis, a third-year board member and urban planner and economic development strategist from New York, became president for the next two years, while Novarro remains the treasurer.

“We won’t be bashful, I guarantee that,” Davis said. “I want residents to know they have officers who are a team of professionals seriously committed to making our neighborhood the best out there. It’s a breath of fresh air.”

Rogoze was corporate president at John Hancock — the banking giant — for 20 years, which later pushed him to form his own banking company in Massachusetts. Rogoze sold that company before moving nine years ago to Lakewood Ranch. He still travels to do consulting work.

“I’m the type of guy who likes to be involved and have control over what’s going on,” Rogoze said. “I want to spend our money in a truthful way. We all live here. It’s a nice thing having control over your lives with no one from the outside intervening.”

IN OTHER BUSINESSIrwin Davis announced the board terminated its contract with Mankin Law Group of Clearwater saying, “We are not satisfied with the results.”

He also said CondoCPA of Sarasota will audit 2012’s books plus the year before.

Also Jan. 1, Country Club West started property-management services with Advanced Management Inc. Board meetings will occur the last Thursday of every month at the AMI headquarters at 9031 Town Center Parkway, in Bradenton.